Draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map

• A draft native vegetation map is initially being released for 11 Local Government Areas covering 6% of New South Wales.
• The draft map does not have legal effect – i.e. it does not impose any new legal obligations and is not binding.
• Landholders can seek a free review of the draft map as it relates to their land. The review will normally be completed in 40 days.
• The draft map can help identify opportunities for landholders to receive payments for the management of conservation assets on their land.

Around 6% of New South Wales was formally mapped in 2017 to identify sensitive and vulnerable categories of land. There is a legal obligation to map 2 other categories of land across the State – category 1 (exempt) and category 2 (regulated) land.

The draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map will be published in stages, and the map will be finalised only after its accuracy is further improved in consultation with landholders.

The process of producing a final map is likely to take around 12 months. When the map is published in your area, landholders can request a free map review at any time now or in the future.

As part of a staged process, a draft map showing these categories is now available for 11 local government areas in sections of the Riverina, Murray and South East regions of New South Wales. Releasing the map in this first stage allows us to undertake further consultation and ensure landholders are best supported through this process.

This region is ideal for initiating the publication of the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map. Covering nearly 5 million hectares, these council areas have a diversity of farming activities and vegetation types and are ideal for initiating the review of the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map.

• Albury City Council
• Coolamon Shire Council
• Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council
• Greater Hume Council
• Hilltops Council
• Junee Shire Council
• Lockhart Shire Council
• Snowy Valleys Council
• Upper Lachlan Shire Council
• Wagga Wagga City Council
• Yass Valley Council

Publication of the draft map

The draft map is being published to enable landholders to review the accuracy of the map of their land before the map is finalised. Even after the map is finalised, landholder can still request map revisions without charge.

The draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map does not create new regulatory requirements or place additional requirements on landholders. While the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map is under review, land categories remain defined by the criteria in the legislation.

While it is only a draft, landholders can consider the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map when making decisions about native vegetation management. For example, if landholders agree that land mapped as draft category 1 land meets the criteria in the Local Land Services Act, they can feel confident they do not require Local Land Services approval to clear native vegetation on that land. Being able to see the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map can help reduce the risk of the landholder making an error in deciding what category an area of land is in, which may inadvertently lead to breaches of the Local Land Services Act.

A map of Vulnerable and Sensitive Regulated Land has been published since 2017, which legally restricts land clearing in those areas.

Checking the draft map and seeking reviews

If you live within one of these 11 local government areas and are considering managing native vegetation on your land, you can:

• view the draft map
• learn about what the categories mean and what you can do in these areas by requesting a free category explanation report
• request a free map review now or at any time in the future – if you think the draft map is inaccurate in specific areas, you can supply more information by contacting us, which will be assessed in relation to the land category criteria specified in the Local Land Services Act.

A staged release for New South Wales

The draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map for all areas of New South Wales will be published in stages. If you are outside the currently published 11 local government areas and would like to be notified when the map becomes available in your area, send us an enquiry.

A Vulnerable and Sensitive Regulated Land map was published in 2017, which legally restricts land clearing in those areas. A limited range of allowable activities are permitted in these mapped areas. This remains in place statewide.

Benefits of the draft map for a landholder

Simplifying self-assessment

The draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map does not create new regulatory requirements or place additional requirements on you. While the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map is under review, land categories remain defined by the criteria in the legislation; the Local Land Services website includes resources that can assist.

The draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map is an additional resource. While it is only a draft, you can consider it in making their decisions about native vegetation management.

Get on with business and operate with confidence

While it is only a draft, you can consider the draft Native Vegetation Regulatory map when making decisions about vegetation management. If the areas mapped as draft category 1–exempt land meet the criteria of the Local Land Services Act, native vegetation clearing is not restricted under the Act in those areas.

Discover economic opportunities

You may own areas mapped as sensitive, vulnerable or category 2–regulated land, which are natural capital assets that could generate economic benefits. These areas can potentially provide economic opportunities, including:

• biodiversity credits: generating biodiversity credits for sale through the Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund and Taskforce
• carbon credits: receiving incentives and private equity through carbon trading schemes
• sustainable farming incentives: accessing sustainable farming initiatives offered by NSW Government by voluntarily improving biodiversity and carbon management.

Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund

Reviews made easy

The department's Map Review Team is here to help you. If you have concerns about how the map categorises your land, please contact us for a free map review by using our enquiry form or contact us.